Growing Optimism

June 6, 1999|By DAVE HEEREN Staff Writer

It's a little early to make comparisons, but Cardinal Newman's 1999 football team could have the closest thing to a clone for Anquan Boldin.

Pahokee's Boldin was regarded as the No. 1 senior in the United States by one rating service last year. Crusaders coach Sam Budnyk isn't saying his senior quarterback, Abram Elam, will be as good as Boldin. But Budnyk is optimistic about the talented Elam, based on his development in spring practice.

Budnyk, who last year called Boldin the greatest player ever produced by a Palm Beach County high school, said last week about Elam: "I wouldn't make the comparison with Boldin yet, but Abram is probably as talented. He is one of the premier players in the area."

Elam is an outstanding athlete who plays the same positions as Boldin, quarterback and defensive back. He is effective throwing and running. Sophomore Demetrius Hodges is developing into a target for Elam's passes.

Santaluces doesn't have to worry about coming up with another Vince Wilfork, the Sun-Sentinel's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. The Chiefs have Wilfork back for his senior year. He is rated by one publication as the second-best senior in Florida, behind Pahokee linebacker Eric Moore.

"Wilfork looked real good this spring," said Santaluces coach Ray Berger. "He is going to be great and he knows it."

Wilfork is holding his weight at 300 pounds. He already has made an oral commitment to attend the University of Miami.

Keyed by the play of Wilfork, who forced one turnover, Santaluces held Pahokee to 82 yards of offense and shut out the Blue Devils 16-0 in a spring game. The Chiefs managed only 109 yards of offense, but Berger is optimistic that senior Corey Reddick is ready to take over the tailback position for Remuise Johnson, the Sun-Sentinel's Offensive Player of the Year in 1998 for large schools.

"Corey is about the same size as Remuise. Remuise would run through you, but for sheer explosiveness to take it the distance, Corey might have the edge," Berger said.

Pope John Paul II is losing a lot of seniors, but the Eagles, who reached the state semifinals last year before losing to Pahokee, should be strong again. They have been helped by the addition of basketball players Rich Alexis and Jason Philosophos.

Alexis, a 205-pounder, decided to go out for football at the urging of college scouts, who told him he would have a better chance of playing college football than college basketball. He is expected to be the Eagles' starting tailback. The 6-foot-6 Philosophos could start at wide receiver.

"Rich is impressive. He is just as explosive on the football field as on the basketball court," Eagles coach Terry Gough said.

"Jason is playing wide receiver like he has done it all his life. He is very smooth."

Two coaches who are optimistic about their teams' chances of improvement are Boca Raton's Brian Dodds and Spanish River's Bill Bretherick. The second-year coaches say they have had time to install their systems after struggling through one season.

"One good thing is we have most of the kids coming back. We lost only six starters," Dodds said. "Last year was a transition for us. We were going to use an I-formation, but at the last minute we had to switch to a wing-T because our tailback transferred. We have more size and experience this year."

Bretherick may not be able to replace graduated offensive standouts Jason Geathers, Donta Murray, Lance Frazier and LaDaris Vann. But he says the Sharks will be stronger on defense in his second season as coach.

"We are strong and experienced in the defensive front. As soon as the secondary catches up to the front, we will have a strong defense," Bretherick said.

Spanish River defeated Boca Raton 19-10 in a spring game.

Olympic Heights defeated Taravella 13-12 on two touchdown runs by Anthony Jackson. The Lions could contend for the district title.